Apparatus for lining pipes.



` J. 0. PERSONS.

APPARATUS FOR LINING PIPES.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 1, 1909.

@mounten James O. Persons Patented 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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J. 0. PERSONS.

APPARATUS FOR LINING PIPES. APPLIoATIoN FILED MAY 1. 1909.

959545 Patented Mar. 22, 1910.

2 SHEETB-8HEET 2.

TIE 1E @hum/lio? dames O. Persons UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

CORPORATION,

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Specification of Letters ratent,

Original application tiled October 14, 1908. Serial No. 457,76L Divided land this application led Hay 1, 1809. Serial No. 498,437.

' arated from the To all whom 'it may concern:

Bc it known that I, JAMES OTis PERSONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Impiwvements in Ap aratus for Lining lipee;l of which the ollowing is a speciicatin.

My invention relates to means for carrying/out a method of lining pipes with lead or similar material, and moi'e particularly, to means for carr ing out` a method for lining either straight or curved pipes after they have been cut, finished, or set in any desired structural relation. Tiis method referred to forms the subject matter of my co-pending application Serial No. I$57,761, of which this is a division.

The invention is especially well ada ted foi' lining the various pipe lines foun on ship board, but is not, of course, .limited to such use, as it lends itself readily to Widely varying classes of. Work.

Bi'oadly considered Vthe invention contemplates the provision of improved means for uniformly expanding a tube of malleable material, such as lead, from one diameter, to a greater predetermined out its length.`

More specifically, the invention seeks to provide means for producing a lead or similar lining in a given pipe'by inserting lead tube of smaller diameter into said pipe, and then expanding said lead' tube until it is forced into close contact with the walls of the outer pipe. It has heretofore been proposed to accomplish this result by hydralic pressure, but itis found in practice, that, Where this method is employed, air bubbles are formed between the Walls of the two pipes, and hence the intimate contact required cannot be obtained. lt has also been proposed to line iron or' similar pipes with lead, at the time of their manufacture into stock of standard length. rI his is accomplished by Clamping the straight lengths of pipe in suitable vises, inserting the lead linin s, and then expanding them by means o a tool or s reader carried by a mandrel. This metho is obviously applicable only to straight pipe. Furthermore,.it has been found that, when Such pipe cut for the purpose of fitting or settii'ig the same, the lining becomes sepdiameter, throughy D pipe at the'point of cutting,

and it 1s thereafter extremely diicult to` cause it to adhere again in a satisfactory manner.

I have devised a method of lining which shall be applicable to curved, as well as straight pipe, and to pipe after it has been cut and set into its final position. In this way the necessity of cuttin and marrin the lining may be obviate. My method is equally as well adapted. to repair work, z'. e., to lining old or. corroded pipe, as to new work. By the use of my method air 4bubbles between the pipe and lining are eliminated, and a close union of the parts vis secured.

The object of my invention is to provide apparatus 'for carrying out the above .outlined method and it is this apparatus which forms the subject of this a plication.

In the accompanying raWings,-Figure l 1s a view partly in section showin my im- ;proved method of attaching a cabe to the detail endv vienT of such a tube on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the cable in position. Fig. 4C is a side elevation partly in section showing the method of inserting a tube into the pipe to be lined. Fig. 5 is a central, longitudinal section illus- Within the pipe. Fig. 6 1s a similar View showing a carrying forward `of the same idea. Fi 7 is a sectional detail of. the end `of a` nised pipe section with the lining in place. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section simient method. Fig. 9 is a` central longitudinal section of one form of spreader which employ. Figs. 10, 1l and 12'are views showtain classes of work.

Referring to the drawings in detail 1 des ignates the malleable tube, which is to form the lining, and which -is usually made of lead or similar materiahand 2 indicates the pipe to be lined. This pipe ma. be either iron,

straight or provided with a number of bends.

From experiments heretofore made in infound that where the pipe is long and crooked itis very difficult to properly insert PatntdMar. 22. will,

tube to be inserted in the pipe. Fig. 2 is a trating the process of expanding the tube4 ing other forms of spreaders adapted to cer.

copper 4or other material, an may be either ylar to Fig. 5, but showing a slightly dierf serting lead tubing into pipes it has beenI the tube. `It has been found that if tension is applied to the front end of the tube the resistance offered to its passage through the pipe often results in rupturing the tube', and, on the other hand, if it is attempted to push the tube through the pipe by exerting a pressure `on its rear end, the tube is apt to` buckle and become distorted. To obviate these d iiiiculties I have devised the method shown 1n Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive. Referring to these figures it will be seen that I form an annular groove 3 near one end of the tube, as by hammering, and a longitudinal groove 4 extends from the annular roove 3 to .the end of the pipe. I thenp ace a cable 6 around the tube so that it lies within the groove and knot it at 7 so that after passing around the tube it may lie in the groove 4 and extend in the direction of the end of the tube. These grooves are simply for the purpose of allowing the cable to lie flush with the outer surface of the tube so as to present no obstruction to the passage of the tube through the pipe. The other end of the cable 6 is led back through the inside of the tube and knotted as at 8, a block 9 being nterposed between the knot and the end of the tube, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4. It will be understood that the cable 6 is of a length considerably greater than the tube and that when its ends are attached to the tube, as above described, its middle portion forms a loop. In this loop I place a pulley 10 journaled in the block 11, which block may in turn be attached to a suitable sheaf 12, or other means by which a tractive force may be applied to said block. It will thus be seen that by pulling on the block 11 the tension in the two portions of the cable on opposite sides of the pulley l0 will be equalized, and the result will be the application of an equal force simultaneously to both ends of the tube 1. If desired, and particularly where the tubes are large, I may employ a strap or bail 5 soldered or otherwise secured to the end of the tube, and may tie the cable to this bail before securing it to the tube at 17. This is for the purpose of centralizing the pull on this end of the tube.

It will be understood, of course, that the tube is of considerably smaller diameter than the pipe in which it is inserted, and that after the tube has been inserted, it is necessary to expand the same into contact with the inner walls of the pipe. For this purpose I employ a device which I designate a spreader, and various forms of which are illustrated in Figs. 9, 10, 11 and`12. Referring to Fig. 9, which illustrates the type of device employed for straight pipes, .23 designates a cylindrical block having its front end tapered or cone shape, as indicated at 23. A bolt 25, having a rounded head 26 passes centrally through the block 23, and is provided at its rear end with a nut 27.

tons and the like.

Under the nut 27 is a washer 2 8, and between. the washer 28 and the block 23 -is clamped a cup shaped leather disk, such as is used to form the packing for ump is- In Fig. 10, I iiave i'l ustrated a spreader of the same eneral shape, but theblock 23a instead cfg being cylindrical is more or less parabolic and the head of the bolt referably conforms to the curve of the bloei?, as shown.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated a section of pipe 2 having a tube 1 inserted therein. After this tube has been drawn into the pipe, I insert a spreader 23 into one end of the tube and then also insert the end of a pipe 14, which is provided with a piston like packing, so as to cause it to fit the tube fluid tight. As shown, this packing consists of a leather disk 16 clamped between two plates 18 and 20, and held in position by means of nuts 15 and 19. It may be herestated that the end of the tube 1 is flattened out so as to form a iiange l, which fills a recess 2d in the flange 2a of the pipe 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. By reference to this figure, it will also be seen that the outer face of the flange 2a is preferably rounded off, as indicated at 2c. Consequently when the adjacent ends of two sections of pipe are arran ed so that the flanges 1a abut and bolts'are inserted through the holes 2h in the flanges 2, a fluid tight joint will be formed between the flanges of the lead lining without the use of any gasket or other packing devices.

Referring again to Figs. 5 and 6 after inserting the pipe 14 in the end of the tube I slip over it a short piece of pipe 17 to act as a brace and over this I secure a clamp 21 attached at one side to the lflange 2a by means of a bolt 22. If therefore fluid ressure, such as hydraulic pressure be admitted throu h pipe 14 it w1ll be seen that the sprea er 23 or 23al will be .driven through the tube and will expand the same into contact with the walls of the pipe, as shown in Fig. 5.- It will be particularly noted that owing to the travel of the spreader through the tube it is expanded progressively from one end to the other, and consequently all air bubbles which would tend to collect between the tube and pipe, are smoothed out and eliminated. In order to still further compact the tube and to secure an even more intimate contact with the pipe, I preferably employ the additional step illustrated in Fig. 6. This consists in providing a clamp 21a at the exit end of the pipe so disposed that when the spreader 23 reaches this end of the pipe its movement will be arrested by the clamp. With the parts in this position hydraulic or other pressure is admitted to the pipe until the pressure very greatly exceeds that employed for driving the spreader through the tube. This results in Vzo forcing the malleable tubing into every irregularity on the inner surface of the pipe, and securing a very intimate contact therewith, and'at the same time this operation serves as a pressure test to determine whether or not the finished pipe will stand the pressure for which itis designed; to this end suitable gages (not shown) are of course, employed. After this test pressure has been applied the clamp 21l is removed, the confined fluid allowed to escape, the tube l cut ofi' at the proper length, and its end bent over to form a flange la, as above described.

Although the form of spreader shown in Fig. 10 will ordinarily sutice, for curved pipes, it may sometimes be desirable where the work is particularly complicated, or where the bends in the pipe are sharp, to employ a series of short spreaders operating one behind the other, as showniin Fig. 8.

` With this arrangement I prefer to make the spreaders of progressively increasing diameter, and the first of the spreaders may be simply a ball, as shownin Fig. 12. The intermediate spreaders may have a conical point and a concave base,I as shown in Fig. 11- to receive the point of the next succeeding spreader, while the last spreader of the series is provided'with-the packing ring 24, so as to secure a fluid tight fit.- 1t will be observed that a series of spreaders used in straight pip'es give the same advantages that they give when they are used with curved pipe. These advantages result mainly from an increased iexibility of the Vspreader by virtue of its being made in sections, thus constituting a series of spreaders, if we consider each section a spreader, and from a decreased friction between the expanding surface and the'surface of the tube being expanded on account of the decreased area of the surface of the spreader in contact with the tube. VThe fiexibility resulting from the formation of the spreader in sections enables the pipe to freely pass over the irregularities 1n the tube being expanded or pipe being expanded, whether that pipe be straight or curved. The decreased friction means an easier and more efficient operation, 'as well as more accurate and better work, as there is less tendency for the tube being expanded to lag more at one side than another, and thus cause thin spots in the wall of the tube, or for the friction to become so vgreat that the tube being expanded is drawn at a point adjacent the rear end of the spreader and the walls thinned. This thinning of the walls of the tube may result in a breaking of the tube in case the friction becomes too great. A further advantage of the use of a series of spreaders is the fact that when the lining tube is of a diameter so much smaller than the tube `to be lined that the expansion is too great to be performed by a single spreader, by the use of a series of spreaders of progressively increasing diameter, the

tube may be expanded at once into place as a lining. If single spreaders were used, three separate operations would be necessary in order to attain this result.

lt will thus be seen that I have devised an improved apparatus for inserting the tube into the pipe to be lined, and also for expanding the same, so astoeliminate air bubbles and to secure the most vperfect contact possible, and it is thought that the numerous advantages of my invention will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

What I claim is,-

1. An apparat-us for lining pipe by expanding within it a tube of lining material, comprising a series of spreaders of progressively increasing diameter adapted to be inserted in one end of the tube, a head for closing the end of the tube behind the spreaders, and means for applying iiuid pressure to the tube between the head and the spreaders.

2. An apparatus for lining pipe by expanding within it a tube of lining material,

comprising a series of spreaders of progressively increasing diameter adapted to be inserted in one end of the tube, the first of saidl spreaders being in the form of a ball, an intermediate spreader having a nose, a curved expandingsurface and a concaved rear end, and the hindmost spreader having a nose adapted to engage said concaved rear end of an intermediate spreader, a curved expanding surface and a rear end adapted to serve as a piston, a head for closing the end of the tube behind the spreaders, and means for applying fluid pressure to the tube between the head and the spreaders for forcing them through the tube.

3. An apparatus for lining pipe by expanding within it a tube of lining material, comprising a series of spreaders adapted to be inserted in one end of the tube and having expanding surfaces adapted to contact with the walls of the tube for a distance less than the overall length of thespreaders, a

head for -closing the end of the tube behind the spreaders, and means for applying. fluid pressure to the tube between the head and the spreaders for forcing the spreaders throughl the tube.

4. An apparatus for lining pipe by expanding within it a tube of lining material, comprising aspreader adapted to be inserted in one end of the tube, a head in the form of a piston forclosing the end of the tube behind the spreader, means for securing said head in place, and means for applying fluid pressure to the tube between the head and the spreader comprising a screw threaded pipe passing through the piston and serving to hold the parts of the piston together. 5. An apparatus for lining pipe by expanding within it a tube of linin material, comprisin a spreader adapted to e inserted in ene en vof the tube, a piston for closing the end of the tube behind the spreader, and means passing through the piston for applyyingdluld pressure to the tube between the rear end of the spreader and the piston for forcing the spreader through the tube, said- -means comprising a pipe threaded into the plston, and means on the pipe for holding the part-s of the piston together.

the spreader, and means for arresting the spreader before it emerges from the other end of the tube, whereby the fluid pressure is confined Within the tube.

7. An apparatus for lining pipe by eX- pandingwithin it a tube of lining material, comprising a spreader adapted to be inserted in one end of the tube, a head for closing the end of the tube behind the spreader, lmeans for applying fluid pressure to the tube between the head and the rear end of the spreader for forcing the spreader through the tube, and means comprising an abutment in the path of the spreader for arresting it before it emerges from the other end of thel tube, whereby the fluid pressure is confined within the tube, and may be raised to force the lining into intimate cont-act with the walls of the pipe.

8. An apparatus for lining pipe by expanding wlthin it a tube of linin material,- comprising a spreader adapted to e inserted in one end of the tube, a head for closing the end of the tube behind the spreader, means for applying liuid pressure to the tube between -the head and -the rear end of the.

spreader vfor forcing the spreader through the tube, and means com rising an abutment clamped to the end of t e pipe in the path of the spreader for arresting it before it emerges from the other end of the tube,

whei'lby the fluid pressure is confined within the tube and may be raised to force the 1ining into intimate contact with the walls of having a rear end adapted to serve as a pis,

ton, a piston for closing the end of saidtube behind said spreader adapted to be clamped`- to the end of the pipe tobe lined, a fluid in let communicating with a source of iiuid pressure passinfr through the body of the piston for admitting fluid pressure to the tube between the piston and the rear end of the spreader for drivin said spreader through the tube, and a c amp for holding the piston in place.

10. An apparatus for expanding a tube comprising a spreader, a packing on the spreader, a bolt-passing through the spreader and securing the packing thereto, the head of the bolt forming the nose of the spreader, and means for forcing the spreader through the tube.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES OTIS PERSONS.v Witnesses:

ARTHUR J. MORRIS, SHEL'roN N. WooDARD. 

